Ten Pieces of Inspiration #130

Each week, I highlight ten things each week that inspired me to greater financial, personal, and professional success. Hopefully, they will inspire you as well.

1. Sir David Attenborough on conservation

“The question is: are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?” – Sir David Attenborough

This is a powerful call to pay attention to conservation. Do we have the right, as humans, to exterminate other species for no real purpose?

2. Find a penny, pick it up…

Is it worthwhile to pick up a penny fallen on the ground? I still do it. I just drop it in my change jar on my dresser and if/when it ever fills up, I’ll take it to the bank (though sometimes I scavenge it for short-term things, like buying lemonade from a child’s lemonade stand on my block).

Thanks to Steven De Polo for the image!

3. Emerson on hard events

“Every calamity is a spur and a valuable hint.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

If your life goes sour, it’s a great chance to figure out what you’re doing wrong and can do better.

This is one of those songs that just takes me directly to a specific place and time. It makes me think of childhood sleepovers, actually. I’m amazed how art can just sometimes take you somewhere else.

5. Dudley Field on the power of disagreement

“I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me.” – Dudley Field

If all you listen to is people who reinforce what you already think, then you’re not learning anything.

6. Andrew Solomon on affection and kindness

“I believe that the same way that we need species diveristy to ensure that the planet can go on, so we need the diversity of affection, and diversity of family in order to strenghten the ecosphere of kindness.” – Andrew Solomon

This is an amazing animated short film. Animation can convey some incredibly powerful emotions and ideas.

8. William Blake on enough

“You never know what is enough, until you know what is more than enough.” – William Blake

I crossed that line a few times in my life. Now I prefer to stay far away from it.

9. Water spigot

A water spigot has provided many hours of fun for my family, many gallons of water for my garden, and many quick cooldowns on a hot day. So simple, yet so useful.

Thanks to Robb North for the image.

10. Sam Harris on kindness to others

“Every person you will pass on the street today is going to die. Living long enough, each will suffer the loss of friends and family. All are going to lose everything they love in this world. Why would one want to be anything but kind to them in the meantime?” — Sam Harris

Put others in this perspective today and see if it changes how you interact with them.

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